WASHINGTON TWP. — Eleven fire companies responded to a house fire around 6:45 p.m. Friday on Old Route 100. The freezing conditions created logistical obstacles for responders, according to a statement from the Eastern Berks Fire Department.

There are no fire hydrants in that area of the township, so crews made use of a porta-pond, the statement said. Tankers went to Bally or Bechtelsville to get the water that filled the pond, but one of the hydrants being used to refill the tankers froze due to the temperatures, the fire department said.

The source of the fire was a gas space heater left on in the house because there was no heat, the department said.

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Eastern Berks Fire Chief Jeff Reitnauer arrived at the scene to find smoke and a fire in a two-story multiple residence, the report said. The house is being renovated and no one was inside at the time of the fire, the department said.

The fire was under control within 45 minutes but crews continued to work together for three hours in the bitter cold wrapping up equipment and investigating, the report said.